William hewitt



(No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet 1. W. HEWITT.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING IRON WIRE AND COLLECTING THE WASTE HYDROGEN GAS.

Patented Mar. 7,1882.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. HEWITT. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING- IRON WIRE'AND GOLLEOTING THE WASTE HYDROGEN GAS. No. 254,478. Patented Mar. 7,1882.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HEWITT, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRENTON IROXGOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING lRON WIRE AND COLLECTING THE WASTE HYDROGEN GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,478, dated March 7, 1882.

Application filed October 2, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM HEWITT of Trenton, New Jersey have invented a new and removed by immersing the wire or plates in an open'bath of dilute sulphuric, mnriatic, or other acid, with the result that the acid permeates the scales of oxide of iron and attacks the iron or steel beneath, whereby the iron or steel is oxidized at the expense of the water of hydration and large quantities of hydrogen gas are liberated and sulphate of iron formed.

Heretofore the hydrogen gas above mentioned has been allowed to escape and become lost for all useful purposes. My invention provides an apparatus for, collecting and utilizing this gas for the purpose of fuel.

In Figure 1 of the drawings is shown a central View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of my apparatus, in which A. is a cleaning tub or vessel formed of such proper material as to withstand the action of acids such as are above mentioned and, in the present instance, of such size and form as to receive coils of wire for treatment with acid. This vessel is provided with a cover B hinged at such distance horizontally from the edge of the tub as to allow the cover to be turned up and away from the tub sufliciently far to permit the coils of wire to be freely placed in and removed from the same.

To the front part of the cover B is attached a cord or chain 0 which is passed over a pulley located on the upper end of the standard D, to this cord or chain is attached a weight E, sufficient to counterpoise the weight of the cover and hold it in any desired open position,

The cover B is provided with a flange or extension F. which fits downwardly within the tub and extends into the body of the acid within the same thereby forming an air and gas tight joint between the tub and its cover, The cover is provided with two openings or cocks G. H, the former of which is for the purpose of allowing of the escape of air from the tub at the beginning of the cleaning process, and the latter is for the escape of hydrogen gas. The cover may be secured in place on the tub by means-of a latch or other suitable device. 6

I. is a gas-conduit leading from the cock H. and opening into the gas-reservoir J, which latter is of the usual construction.

In the drawings-Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view of a furnace for burning hydrogen gas, and Fig. 3 a vertical central cross-section of the same through the combustion-chamber. In this furnace, K. represents the coinbustion-chamber, and L the bridge. This chamber is filled with loose brickwork M. in such manner as to allow of the upward ascent of gas through the same the gas being fed through the gas port N. at the bottom of the chamber.

0.0. O. are tuyeres through the back wall of 80 the furnace and opening into the combustionchamber above the top of the loose brick-work therein. In use air is supplied through these tuyeres and mingles with the hydrogen gas at the top of the combustion-chamber, which mixture, when ignited, provides a flame, the intensity of which may be regulated by the supply of gas and blast.

The construction of the furnace shown in the drawings, otherwise than as above described,. is well known.

I am aware that hydrogen gas has for many years been made and used for heating purposes and has,in combination withother gases, been used for illuminating purposes, to this 95 broadly I lay no claim Having thus described my invention what air and gas cocks and is hinged at a point hori- I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent zontally remote from the edge of the tub, subis: stantially as specified. An apparatus for cleaning wire and such In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed 5 articles and for collecting the Waste hydrogen -my name this 30th day of September A. D., :5

gas evolved in suchprocess, which consists in 1880.

an acid-proof tub, provided with an air-tight WM HEWITT cover having a flange extending downwardly In presence of within said tub into the liquid contained in W. O. STRAWBRIDGE 10 the same,which cover is likewise provided with J BONSALL TAYLOR 

